Alaska stakes 4-game win run against Phoenix
ONE of the hottest teams in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup, the Alaska Aces trek back to the court today against the Phoenix Fuel Masters with an eye on extending their winning run which now stands at four games.
Following a 0- 2 start to the season- opening tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Aces have made a complete turnaround in their games after to put themselves in the top three in the standings midway into the race.
They now focus their attention in adding the Fuel Masters (3-3) to their list of victims when they collide in the main game set for 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alaska comes into game fresh from their conquest of the Blackwater Elite last Saturday, beating the latter, 88-84.
The Aces played in said game sans star forward Calvin Abueva who excused himself to attend to a “family emergency.”
But while Alaska was without one of their stalwarts, it still handled the situation well, standing their ground, particularly on the defensive end, and taking headon the challenge that the Elite presented.
Chris Banchero and Vic Manuel paced the Aces with 16 points apiece and the two combining for 13 boards.
Kevin Racal had 14 points and rookie Jeron Teng finished with 10 points, three of which came in a crucial juncture late in the match that helped preserve the win for the Aces.
“I love the defensive effort and energy that we showed tonight. And we look forward to sustaining it in our coming games,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton following their victory.
Looking to halt the streak of the Aces are the Fuel Masters, themselves coming off a big victory over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 87-82, last Friday.
Willy Wilson led Phoenix in the victory, scoring 19 points, on 7-of-7 shooting, against his former team while adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Matthew Wright and Jeff Chan also had 19 points each to help push the Fuel Masters back on the winning track after losing their previous three matches.
The spirited play of Mr. Wilson incidentally won for him the player of the week honors, beating teammate Chan, Rain or Shine’s Maverick Ahanmisi, Alaska’s Banchero and Manuel, Magnolia’s Mark Barroca, San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Raymond Aguilar and GlobalPort’s Kelly Nabong and Jonathan Grey for the award.
Meanwhile playing in the curtain- raiser at 4: 30 p. m. are the TNT KaTropa (3-3) and Kia Picanto (1-5).
Both teams are coming off losses in their previous games with TNT bowing to the Magnolia Hotshots, 91-83, last Saturday while the Picanto were pounded by the Meralco Bolts, 105-76, last Wednesday.